The Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Jakub Voracek to a four-year contract.

The deal reportedly is worth $17 million, according to CSNPhilly.com. The 22-year-old restricted free agent, who will likely fill the void left by Jaromir Jagr on the Flyers top line with center Claude Giroux and left wing Scott Hartnell, will earn $4.25 million annually.

“We are happy to have Jake under contract and look forward to him being a big part of our future,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said.

Voracek spoke about the possibility of playing alongside Giroux and Hartnell this season.

“I’m very happy that the Flyers give me that opportunity to play on a top line with ‘G’ and ‘Hartsy’ but, like I say, you never know what’s going to happen in the season,” Voracek said during a media conference call Thursday. “I’ve just got to work hard and, hopefully, we play great together. It’s up to [coach Peter Laviolette] what he wants to do with the lines, but I’m sure we’re going to figure out something good.”

Voracek said he remained patient throughout the free-agent signing period, which began July 1.

“We all knew what was going on with the free agency, and whether I was signed or not, I was just patient,” he said. “I knew I would get that opportunity to sign, and that’s exactly what happened. I’m happy we agreed on the terms and happy to be locked up by the Flyers the next four years.”

In his first season with the Flyers, Voracek produced 49 points, including a career-high 18 goals, in 78 regular-season games, as well as two goals and 10 points in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Voracek hopes to improve on those numbers in 2012-13.

“Since last December, I started playing a lot more minutes for the team and was getting more confidence every day and every shift,” Voracek said. “I was very happy with my last season with the way [Laviolette] trusted me.

“I know that if I work hard and do the right things over the summer, I’ll get better every year. Hopefully, I’ll have better numbers this year and we’ll have a better overall team than last year.”

Taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the seventh pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Voracek was traded to the Flyers on June 23, 2011, along with a 2011 first-round pick and a third-round pick in exchange for center Jeff Carter. Voracek signed a one-year contract with the Flyers on July 1, 2011, following the trade.


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